If you’re anything like me, you’ve been thinking about what to bring to college since you were in the 10th grade. It’s an exciting time, curating the perfect mini home away from home.
While checking twinkle lights and throw pillows off the packing list is an easy task, it can be hard to remember certain essentials that will make dorm life run smoothly. So, The Tiger is making it easy with some dorm room essentials and why you actually need them!
Storage ottoman: This first item is often overlooked but ultimately provides so many uses: a storage ottoman. This little cube not only provides storage for shoes, cleaning supplies or whatever your heart desires but also serves as a stool for your lofted bed, saving you the hassle of leaping onto the awkward height. An ottoman can also provide extra seating when friends come over for a study — or gossip — session.
Fan: Whether it’s a clip-on, standing, or oscillating fan, you can never have too many. While the dorms have air conditioning, a fan will provide much-needed airflow into a tiny room, especially in the August and September heat.
Reading pillow: As hard as we may try to keep homework to our desks, inevitably, there comes a time when you want to do a discussion post in bed. That’s why a unique essential is a reading pillow. This bedrest pillow may seem trivial, but it provides excellent comfort when sitting on the dorm bed doing homework or watching TV and can even work as a makeshift headboard.
Medicine box: A medicine box is super important to keep in your dorm. I promise that at some point, between stepping foot on campus and heading home for winter break, you will catch a sickness. However, there’s nothing to fear with a box full of cough suppressants, Emergen-C, allergy medicine or anything your body needs.
Mattress topper: Every night, it is essential to get around eight hours of sleep. Therefore, it is necessary to have a good mattress topper. A gel memory foam mattress topper ranging from 2-3 inches tall fit for a twin, extra-large mattress is the most popular, and for a good reason. With the addition of a mattress topper, I ended up loving my tiny twin more than my full-sized bed at home.
Shower accessories: To prepare for the communal bathrooms, a shower caddy, shower shoes and a comfy robe are must-haves. There is a plethora of styles for each of these items, such as plastic versus mesh shower caddies. But truthfully, you can’t go wrong with either!
Some honorable mentions include the famed rolling cart, which can be used in every which way, books, cleaning supplies, snack storage; the possibilities are endless, a small but mighty vacuum, a good water bottle and extension cords to make sure all the gadgets are easily in reach so that you can keep up with your favorite media, such as The Tiger.
